Enjoy a More Proportional Silhouette

Women with very large, pendulous breasts may experience a variety of medical problems caused by excessive weight-from back and neck pain and skin irritation to skeletal deformities and breathing problems. Bra straps may leave indentations in their shoulders. And unusually large breasts can make a woman or a teenage girl feel extremely self-conscious.

If you’re interested in learning more about how a breast reduction performed by Dr. Cappuccino can benefit you, reach out to our Mount Airy office and set up your in-person consultation today.

Dr. Guy Cappuccino Logo media

How Can Breast Reduction Help Me?

Breast reduction, technically known as reduction mammaplasty, is designed for women whose overly large breasts have caused cosmetic issues, physical problems, or both. The procedure removes fat, glandular tissue, and skin from the breasts, making them smaller, lighter, and firmer. It can also reduce the size of the areola, the darker skin surrounding the nipple. The goal is to enable you to enjoy smaller, better-shaped breasts that are more in proportion with the rest of your body.

Dr. Guy Cappuccino is proud to offer a number of surgical options, and will carefully get to know both you and your surgical goals. Together, you’ll explore your various options and will decide upon whether or not breast reduction is indeed the right procedure for you.

Breast Reduction Before & After

View More

The Best Candidates for Breast Reduction

Breast reduction is usually performed for physical relief rather than simply cosmetic improvement. Most women who have the surgery are troubled by very large, sagging breasts that restrict their activities and cause them physical discomfort.

In most cases, breast reduction isn't performed until a woman's breasts are fully developed; however, it can be done earlier if large breasts are causing serious physical discomfort.

The best candidates are those who are mature enough to fully understand the procedure and have realistic expectations about the results. Breast reduction is not recommended for women who intend to breastfeed.

Breast Surgery with Dr. Guy Cappuccino

Dr. Guy Cappuccino is an expert in breast surgery in Mount Airy, Maryland that provides various breast procedures including breast augmentation, breast lift, breast reduction, and more. Breast surgery can provide transformative results, and can help patients improve symmetry, shape, position, firmness, and more. Those interested in breast surgery should always meet with a board-certified plastic surgeon to discuss how to achieve their desired results.

Dr. Cappuccino conducting a breast reduction consultation

Potential Risks From Breast Reduction Surgery

Breast reduction is not a simple operation, but it's quite safe when performed by a highly qualified and experienced surgeon like Dr. Guy Cappuccino. As with any surgery, there is always a possibility of complications, including bleeding, infection, or reaction to the anesthesia.

The procedure does leave noticeable, permanent scars, although they'll be covered by your bra or bathing suit. (Poor healing and wider scars are more common in smokers.) The procedure can also leave you with slightly mismatched breasts or unevenly positioned nipples. 

Future breastfeeding may not be possible, since the surgery removes many of the milk ducts leading to the nipples. Some patients may experience a permanent loss of feeling in their nipples or breasts. 

Dr. Guy Cappuccino website Banner media

The Day of Your Surgery

The most common technique involves an anchor-shaped incision that circles the areola, extends downward, and follows the natural curve of the crease beneath the breast. Dr. Cappuccino will remove excess glandular tissue, fat, and skin, and move the nipple and areola into their new position. He will then bring the skin from both sides of the breast down and around the areola, shaping the new contour of the breast. Liposuction may be used to remove excess fat from the armpit area.

Breast reduction surgery typically usually takes two to four hours, but may take longer in some cases, and is nearly always performed under general anesthesia. You'll be asleep through the entire operation.

In almost all cases, the nipples remain attached to their blood vessels and nerves. However, if the breasts are very large or pendulous, the nipples and areolas may have to be completely removed and grafted into a higher position. (This will result in a loss of sensation in the nipple and areolar tissue.)

Stitches are usually located around the areola, in a vertical line extending downward, and along the lower crease of the breast. In some cases, techniques can be used that eliminate the vertical part of the scar. And occasionally, when only fat needs to be removed, liposuction alone can be used to reduce breast size, leaving minimal scars.

After Your Surgery

After your breast reduction in Maryland, you'll wear an elastic bandage or a surgical bra over gauze dressings. Your breasts might be bruised, swollen, and uncomfortable for a day or two, but the pain shouldn't be severe. Any discomfort you do feel can be relieved with medications prescribed by Dr. Cappuccino. Within 24 hours, the bandages or surgical bra will be removed and you may shower. You will continue to wear a soft support bra. You'll need to wear this bra around the clock for three to four weeks. The stitches will dissolve.

Specially designed scar management dressings will be applied at your follow-up appointments. These dressings called Embrace minimize the scarring and speed the healing process. If your breast skin is very dry following surgery, you can apply a moisturizer several times a day. Be careful not to tug at your skin in the process, and keep the moisturizer away from the suture areas. You can expect some loss of feeling in your nipples and breast skin, caused by the swelling after surgery. This numbness usually fades as the swelling subsides over the next six weeks or so. In some patients, however, it may last a year or more, and occasionally it may be permanent.

Your first menstruation following surgery may cause your breasts to swell and hurt. You may also experience random, shooting pains for a few months. You can expect some loss of feeling in your nipples and breast skin, caused by the swelling after surgery. This usually fades over the next six weeks or so. In some patients, however, it may last a year or more, and occasionally it may be permanent. Dr. Cappuccino will set up follow-up appointments to ensure that you’re healing properly after your procedure.

Dr. Guy Cappuccino website Background media

Getting Back to Normal

Although you may be up and about in a day or two, your breasts may still ache occasionally for a couple of weeks. You should avoid lifting or pushing anything heavy for three or four weeks. Dr. Cappuccino will give you detailed instructions for resuming your normal activities. Most women can return to work (if it's not too strenuous) and social activities in about two weeks.

You may be instructed to avoid sex for a week or more since sexual arousal can cause your incisions to swell, and to avoid anything but gentle contact with your breasts for about six weeks. A small amount of fluid draining from your surgical wound, or some crusting, is normal. If you have any unusual symptoms, such as bleeding or severe pain, don't hesitate to call us.

Loving Your New Look

Although much of the swelling and bruising will disappear in the first few weeks, it may be six months to a year before your breasts settle into their new shape. Even then, their shape may fluctuate in response to your hormonal shifts, weight changes, and pregnancy.

Dr. Cappuccino always works to minimize the presence of visible scarring, but it’s important to keep in mind that this procedure will in fact leave behind permanent scars. They will remain red and textured for a few months before eventually fading into thin white lines that are not easily noticed. Dr. Cappuccino will help you understand exactly what to expect in this regard and will make every effort to ensure that your scars are easily hidden by clothing.

Enjoying your New Self

If overly large breasts are keeping you from the look you’d prefer, or are causing you to experience painful physical issues (or both), breast reduction with plastic surgeon Dr. Guy Cappuccino can help. He and his dedicated staff have been serving satisfied patients in Mount Airy, Frederick MD, and all over the world for more than a decade, and he is eager to learn more about how he can create your ideal cosmetic outcome. To learn more, reach out and set up your consultation today.

Breast Reduction FAQs: 

How much will a Breast Reduction cost?

How much will a Breast Reduction cost?

The cost of a breast reduction surgery is typically around $9600, depending on factors such as the geographic location, complexity of the procedure, and your consultation of needs with Dr. Cappuccino.

Dr. Guy Cappuccino website Contact us media
Accessibility: If you are vision-impaired or have some other impairment covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act or a similar law, and you wish to discuss potential accommodations related to using this website, please contact our Accessibility Manager at 301-829-4110 .
Contact Us